Are People Actually Nicer During The Holidays?

They say it’s the most wonderful time of the year…but is that actually true? The holidays can be full of stress and Black Friday insanity – and it can be easy to focus on those things. But what about the other stuff? The cozy blankets and warm drinks by the fire…time making cookies with the kids. Do they make a difference? As it turns out, our brains make all sorts of weird associations – including tying physical warmth to emotional warmth. What does that mean? Put simply – if you hold something warm in your hands, you are more likely to act generously and interpret others as being more “warm” in their interactions with you as well. Weird? Yes. But[….]

Herding and How To Start a Movement

On the Behavioral Economics Foundations episode on Herding, I mentioned one of my favorite TED Talks – How To Start A Movement by Derek Sivers. TED Talks are always pretty short, but this one is just three minutes long. You might think that is too short to learn something so amazing. Thankfully, this video delivers. While Sivers does not mention the terms “behavioral economics” or “herding” those underlying tendencies we have as a species are why his theories work (and are true). I love the simplicity of the message and how he made it relatable (remember – it’s not about the cookie). Taking complex concepts and making them fun and engaging is pretty much my jam, which is likely why[….]

Nebraska – Honestly, It’s Not For Everyone

Advertisements for tourism are often cliche and Utopian in their focus. But, what if your city, state or country doesn’t have landmarks people often seek out? What if you are a place people are more likely to drive through than plan a trip to? How can you get people to think of you differently so you can increase tourism? That’s where behavioral economics comes in. If you listen to The Brainy Business podcast or have heard me speak, you have likely heard me say “perception is reality” more than once. That is because of how the brain forms opinions and ideas. If someone has a strong belief about something – like, “Nebraska is just a state you drive through” –[….]